Bella’s POV
The longer I held her gaze, the more I could see realization dawning on her face. She knew she had crossed a line.
"I only ant that he’s a man who requires understanding too," she backtracked quickly, sensing her mistake.
"And you believe you’re the one who can provide what I apparently cannot," I shot back.
Each ti I delivered these pointed remarks, her expression shifted to one of genuine surprise. It baffled , really, because she had initiated this entire discussion. What exactly did she expect from ? Gratitude for warming my husband’s bed and offering him solace?
"I see what this is really about. You’re threatened because he seeks my company," she finally managed.
Chloe’s response left completely stunned. I had never once indicated any signs of jealousy or concern, yet here she was, making assumptions that had no basis in reality.
I set the knife down deliberately and turned my full attention to her.
"Chloe, you understand perfectly well that I’m not threatened. And if I truly were, believe , you would have disappeared from his world long ago."
The unwavering certainty in my voice caused her to tense her jaw before averting her gaze downward. She forced herself to stand straighter before attempting to speak once more.
I could sense another complaint forming, so I raised my hand to stop her.
"Enough. There’s no need for you to continue discussing my husband. Sharing his bed doesn’t grant you permission to interrogate about our marriage."
Her face registered complete shock at my bluntness.
"What’s happening here?" Vance’s entrance clearly startled her. She jumped slightly before plastering on an artificial smile.
"We were simply preparing your breakfast and the children’s," she replied with forced brightness.
"Actually, we were engaged in a disagreent," I corrected, noting how her eyes widened as she shot a panicked look. "She seed concerned that I was failing as a wife by allowing you to sleep on the living room sofa."
"Absolutely not. I would never suggest such a thing," she stamred, scrambling for explanations.
I had made my point clear.
"There’s no reason for you to concern yourself with the dynamics of our marriage, Chloe. Perhaps you’ve lost sight of your position here," he cautioned, his tone cutting.
"Of course, I was simply concerned for your wellbeing. I apologize sincerely. I should check on the children now, they’re likely stirring," she murmured, eyes fixed on the floor as she hurried from the kitchen.
"She isn’t entirely mistaken," Vance observed after her departure.
I looked up to find him positioning his hands on the counter across from , leaning forward until our eyes t.
"I am deserving of your attention," he said, his voice dropping to a rougher register.
"You need to prepare yourself. The boat departs shortly, and there’s weather approaching that will make conditions much more challenging," I replied, deliberately steering the conversation elsewhere.
"Of course," he responded, his tone noticeably flatter now, clearly irritated by my refusal to engage with his advances.
After he left the kitchen, I finished preparing the morning al and set everything out properly.
The children had awakened but remained unusually subdued. I noticed they hadn’t ward to Tara yet, which concerned . I decided to address this situation later when I could handle it appropriately.
We traveled to the waterfront as a group, and the children behaved exactly as they always did, clinging to Vance with such intensity that he could barely move freely. Yet he supported their weight effortlessly, even when they tangled their small fingers in his hair or attempted to explore his jacket pockets. He rarely showed any signs of annoyance with their behavior.
Vance possessed this remarkable quality that I envied deeply. His composure never wavered. When I was overwheld and the children beca loud and restless, anxiety would consu entirely. But never Vance. He maintained his focus regardless of chaos surrounding him. I craved that level of steady patience.
"Take care of yourself, my wife. I’ll return before you know it."
After his luggage was secured, he approached and pulled into his embrace. Parker stood nearby on the shore, observing our interaction with obvious interest. Naturally, having an audience only encouraged Vance to be more demonstrative.
He pressed his lips to my cheek first, then shifted toward my mouth. He paused, maintaining intense eye contact before capturing my lips completely. My body went rigid montarily before I began responding. He drew my upper lip between his teeth while his hand pressed against my back, eliminating any space between us.
A soft sound escaped , and I felt his reaction to it imdiately. But our children ca racing back and wrapped themselves around our legs, forcing him to break away.
I laughed nervously, matching my children’s delighted giggles while Vance bead down at them affectionately.
"Be safe," I told him as he finally boarded.
We remained on the shore watching the vessel disappear. My children appeared montarily sad before becoming distracted by the balloons he had purchased during our journey here.
"So the unfaithful husband departs, and you’re fighting back tears?"
Parker’s comnt made spin around, staring at him in complete disbelief.
Before I could reprimand him, he pressed on.
"Don’t pretend you managed to deceive the other evening. I witnessed exactly what happened. I saw your husband betraying you, and I’m uncertain whether you’re aware or simply choosing to remain willfully ignorant. The fact that he appeared later while you claid he had been with you all along proved you were protecting his reputation."
His words hit like a physical blow. He was an alpha, and I should have realized that simple explanations wouldn’t satisfy his instincts. But I owed him no explanations.
"You’re welco to your theories. I understand the reality of my situation, and I have complete faith in my husband," I declared firmly.
His amused laugh made my jaw clench involuntarily.
"It appears soone else is displaying more distress than you are."
Following his gaze over my shoulder, I understood his aning imdiately. Chloe stood motionless, hands clasped before her, staring at the empty water where Vance’s boat had been. Tears stread down her face openly.
"You should have observed her expression during your passionate farewell," Parker continued, his tone mocking my supposed blindness to my husband’s infidelity. "Did she appear more devastated than you felt?"
I responded swiftly, watching his smug expression vanish.
"Jealousy doesn’t automatically indicate a physical relationship."
I turned sharply on my heel and called to my children. "We’re leaving."
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